Sony's Doug Belgrad and Andrea Giannetti are shepherding the project for the studio.

Murphy, who most recently starred in "Norbit," also earned a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination this year for his supporting turn as James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls." He next will reprise his role as the voice of the Donkey in "Shrek the Third" and will topline the 20th Century Fox comedy "Starship Dave."

He is repped by WMA and attorneys Skip Brittenham and Matthew Johnson.